‘Liberal Party likely to support Roco’

Another party belonging to the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) is likely to support the presidential bid of former education secretary Raul Roco.

The Liberal Party is considering endorsing Roco as PPC standard bearer in the 2004 elections, Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, former LP secretary general, told reporters yesterday.

He said the party will meet on Jan. 17 to make a decision.

Aquino said Roco, being the consistent top performer in surveys, has the edge over other PPC presidential hopefuls.

If the Liberal Party endorses the former education secretary, it will be the third PPC member-party to support Roco’s presidential bid. LP is the second biggest PPC member after Lakas.

On Wednesday, Reporma, led by former defense secretary Renato de Villa, and Promdi (Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative), headed by former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña, announced that they were supporting Roco.

However, Lakas, which dominates the ruling coalition, is still keeping an open mind on whom to endorse as PPC standard bearer, although many of its members are rooting for Roco.

At least two young Lakas leaders, Representatives Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon and Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr. of Negros Occidental, have been vocal in their endorsement of the former education department boss.

"He’s the best choice. He can beat the most popular among potential opposition candidates as shown in previous surveys," said Zubiri.

Lozada said Roco has both credibility and the ability to win, the two most important qualities that a presidential candidate should possess and which other contenders sadly do not have.

Lozada, who is identified with former President Fidel Ramos, said Lakas should endorse Roco soon before other bigger political groups announce their support for him.

He also proposed that PPC contenders should bind themselves to stick it out with the coalition even if they are not chosen standard-bearer.

"This would ensure the domination of the PPC in a two-cornered fight with the opposition," Lozada said.

The former Ramos appointments secretary does not want a repeat of what Ramos did in 1992 when he bolted the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and formed Lakas-Tao after losing the presidential nomination to the late speaker Ramon Mitra Jr.

With the support of then President Corazon Aquino, Ramos won the elections.

Another Lakas leader, Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo I of Valenzuela City, said Lakas has a deep bench of potential presidential candidates.

"The next elections are still one and a half years away. A credible name should crop up along the way," he said.

Gunigundo said he is hesitant to endorse Roco, because like President Arroyo, he tends to have a short fuse.

"Mataray din siya, gaya ni Ate Glo," he said.